PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-9700K

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $38 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $423 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 16,238).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-9900.

Core i9-9900

2019

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-9700K.

Trade-offs

❌
9.9% HIGHER MSRP
$423 MSRPvs$385 MSRP

Core i7-9700K

2018

Core i9-9900

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $38 less on MSRP ($385 MSRP vs $423 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.8% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).
✅Draws 65W instead of 95W, a 30W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-9700K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i9-9900 across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (14,397 vs 16,238).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (12 MB vs 16 MB).
❌46.2% higher power demand at 95W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i9-9900.

Trade-offs

❌
9.9% HIGHER MSRP
$423 MSRPvs$385 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Core i9-9900 better than Core i7-9700K?

Yes. Core i9-9900 is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 20.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data, 12.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i9-9900 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 20.8% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i9-9900 is the better fit. You are getting 12.8% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i9-9900 is the smarter buy today. Core i9-9900 is 9.9% more expensive on MSRP at $423 MSRP versus $385 MSRP, and it gives you a 20.8% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 2.7% better value on MSRP (38.4 vs 37.4 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i9-9900 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2019 vs 2018), 33.3% larger total L3 cache (16 MB vs 12 MB), and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 8/8. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-9700K Benchmark Check

Core i9-9900 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-9900
1080p
low	308 FPS	292 FPS
medium	278 FPS	259 FPS
high	231 FPS	219 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	188 FPS
1440p
low	270 FPS	240 FPS
medium	221 FPS	191 FPS
high	178 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	166 FPS
medium	140 FPS	135 FPS
high	108 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	91 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-9900

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-9900
1080p
low	360 FPS	406 FPS
medium	321 FPS	406 FPS
high	291 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	259 FPS	403 FPS
1440p
low	324 FPS	406 FPS
medium	282 FPS	406 FPS
high	258 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	225 FPS	360 FPS
4K
low	249 FPS	397 FPS
medium	221 FPS	337 FPS
high	208 FPS	318 FPS
ultra	179 FPS	273 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-9900

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-9900
1080p
low	360 FPS	406 FPS
medium	360 FPS	406 FPS
high	360 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	406 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	406 FPS
medium	360 FPS	406 FPS
high	360 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	406 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	406 FPS
medium	360 FPS	406 FPS
high	360 FPS	397 FPS
ultra	318 FPS	331 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-9900

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-9900
1080p
low	360 FPS	406 FPS
medium	360 FPS	406 FPS
high	360 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	406 FPS
1440p
low	360 FPS	406 FPS
medium	360 FPS	406 FPS
high	360 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	406 FPS
4K
low	360 FPS	406 FPS
medium	360 FPS	406 FPS
high	360 FPS	406 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	406 FPS

Open Core i7-9700K Open Core i9-9900

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-9700K and Core i9-9900

Core i7-9700K

The Core i7-9700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 19 October 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 12 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 95 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 14,397 points. Launch price was $374.

Core i9-9900

The Core i9-9900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 23 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2666. Passmark benchmark score: 16,238 points. Launch price was $439.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i7-9700K packs 8 cores / 8 threads, matching the Core i9-9900's 8 cores. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-9700K versus 5 GHz on the Core i9-9900 — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i9-9900 (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.1 GHz). Both are built on the Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019) architecture using a 14 nm process. In PassMark, the Core i7-9700K scores 14,397 against the Core i9-9900's 16,238 — a 12% lead for the Core i9-9900. L3 cache: 12 MB (total) on the Core i7-9700K vs 16 MB (total) on the Core i9-9900.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-9900
Cores / Threads	8 / 8	8 / 16
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5 GHz+2%
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+16%	3.1 GHz
L3 Cache	12 MB (total)	16 MB (total)+33%
L2 Cache	256K (per core)	256K (per core)
Process	14 nm	14 nm
Architecture	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)	Coffee Lake-R (2018−2019)
PassMark	14,397	16,238+13%
Cinebench R23 Multi	—	7,619
Geekbench 6 Single	—	1,637
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	7,619

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1151 socket with PCIe 3.0. Both support up to DDR4-2666 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 16 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: Intel 300 series (Core i7-9700K) and Z390,B365 (Core i9-9900).

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-9900
Socket	LGA1151	LGA1151
PCIe Generation	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 3.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2666
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	128 GB
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	No
PCIe Lanes	16	16

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-9700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics 630 (Core i7-9700K) and UHD Graphics 630 (Core i9-9900) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-9700K targets Desktop.

Feature	Core i7-9700K	Core i9-9900
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 630	UHD Graphics 630
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-9700K launched at $385 MSRP, while the Core i9-9900 debuted at $423. On MSRP ($385 vs $423), the Core i7-9700K is $38 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-9700K delivers 37.4 pts/$ vs 38.4 pts/$ for the Core i9-9900 — making the Core i9-9900 the 2.6% better value option.